The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-23
A MENAGERIE LOOSE.
Exci ing Time at a Railroad Depot
i'm ST. Louis.

An accident occurred the other evening
which causet destruction, death anil pande'
nonum in the ST. Louis Union Station. and
for time converted that prehistoric nscitu
tuition into q vcritabl, African jungle all |
bowling wilderness of will beasts. Six cars
owned by Robinson's circus stood on track i'll
the yards. Lions, tigers, big snakes and other
wild beasts filed them The station was
filled with suburban residents and visitors
from country towns. The train was OH its
way from Dodge City to Cincinnati, aud was
pulling out Of tic station when the
six cars left the track. They
were scarcely OF before freight train
coming through crushed into them. George
SQuires, a canvas man, who was on one
of the cars, was instantly killed. HIS
head was cut off and his limbs were
torn from his body. Blanche Fisher,
performer, was hurt about the
head, one Of the passenger coaches being
wrecked. Thomas Foley, Joseph Eisel and
one man unknown were seriously injured.
Others were hurt more or less, but did not
require hospital treatment.
The shock threw the cars into chaotic
mass and attracted crowd.
Suddenly voice screamed: My (iol the
tiger is loose!r and the Royal Bengal lsOunlcd
tions. One man was bitten in the nc"k by the
dazed and infuriated animal. Capt. Hercules
and other officers were present, but
they dared not shoot OIL account
of the density of the crowd a
fight of stairs leads to the upper offices, and
up this tho tiger sprang. Near the top he
met Joseph Charles, ono of the Clerks
The surprise was all on Mr.. Charless side
Man and animal stool facing each
~Al,o for fhnf n
pass, and Mr.. Charles slowly retreated, fac
the beast, which glared at him and fol-
Lowell him step for step, preparing for
spring Mr. Charles shouted for assistance.
There were three women in the office. They
did not shrek or faint. They got chairs and
tables to balricade the door and shouted for
help from the window. Mr.. Charles got
into the office safely, put his revolver through
the slightly opened door and fired at the
tiger, which became more and more
infuriated at every shot. At this juncture
circus men arrived with poles and canvas,
and after struggle succeeded in overpower-
ing the brute They threw canvas over him
and pinned him to the floor, where they held
him until he was taken to Il cage.
Nine cages arc demolished and two mount
ain lions are dead. The loss to the company
will be $4,000. Fourteen animals in all
were liberated from the cages A lion was
overpowered with pixies and canvas under
n freight train, q leopard was shot in the
head, an ibex was captured slightly, in
jured, q big boa constructor was cut to
pieces under car wheels, and the Bengal tiger
has three bullets in him and nuinberlesS pike
wounds. Eleven animals were at large RAM
pant, creating reign of terror in the southern
section of the city for over two hours.
Squads Of circus men with firearms, pixies etc,
assisted officers in capturing them. The last
secured was mountain lion, which fought
desperately in the ticket Office o. General
Manager Taussig, until lassoel with strong
ropes, nearly strangled and hauled into